To take advantage of the fresh start in order to bring new life to your life. I am measuring my Father-in-law’s life in some respect, by the change he inspires in others. I say this, because I believe his life is particularly poised to inspire others… especially when the stories are shared. However, this is not the time to drive that… this is the time, to see what we can inspire from within you.

If you have read my blog over any length of time, you know that I am particularly enthralled with David of the house of Abraham, and who’s line eventually birthed Christ into the world. This man has a particularly exciting story, and for most of my readers, you already know this. But some of you do not come from a Christian or Biblically educated background; and I thank you because you give me reason to share from his history.

David first came on the scene as a boy (a teenager perhaps) protecting his flock from lions and bears, and eventually protecting his flock (all of his countrymen) by defeating Goliath and cutting off his head. So far, pretty cool. His fame drove him to banishment as the king was fearful of his favor with the people and ultimately the jealousy that drove the current king to chase David around the countryside. Later he was delivered to the thrown, which is why he is most commonly known as King David. From there, a checkered story of fame, battle, conquering, and eventually suffering from the thralls of sin.

But think of the start of this story. A boy, kills a mountain of a man in the name of God, liberating his people. An underdog story is how it is described, and an underdog is how he looks in the featured image for this post.

Yet, was he really an underdog? The chosen one by God… an underdog? I guess it might seem that way, but the power behind him was so much greater than the trouble ahead. Lets look deeper… how had he been prepared.

Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.” 34But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, 35I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

Preparation. That is the name of the game, and God had prepared this man.

I think I would depict him more like this –

Do you remember Brad Pitt as Achilles in the movie Troy? Dancing around like his foe was stuck to the ground, while he floated through the air. This is how David moved, I am sure of it. Like a man who had Angels wings, David.

The relationship here is to you.

2017 presents a new opportunity to do great things. Who are you beyond who you see on the surface? What has God done to prepare you for great things? I don’t think David was particularly blessed. Rather, I believe he was more willing than all of us to trust in God’s blessing. He was unparalleled in his willingness to put faith in front of fear.

And with every mounting victory, his faith, faith that was already beyond our comprehension, grew. And he became the most celebrated king of all time (thanks to the growth of Christianity and ultimately his story being told to millions of people over thousands of years). YOU have this potential in you.

I often wonder what we could all accomplish if:

We worked together, much like the early followers of Christ. Creating a bond between us to share in our efforts and our favor. To become a unified team.

We truly trusted the blessings would be there, irrespective of WHEN they would be there, but simply that they would be there.

I am looking at 2017 with greater hopes of prosperity, charity, love and service than I have ever had hopes for. 2016 was the same, and 2015 still more of the same. It is up to us to trust that there is more for us than we currently have. ”More” being the overall blessing bestowed on us. MORE.

I love you and trust that you will be moved, and if not, then talk to me about how to take this to the next level.